Date:         Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15:29 -0500
Reply-To:     Paul Guzyk <paullist08@GUZYK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Guzyk <paullist08@GUZYK.COM>
Subject:      WAS Anyone have a South African ETKA? now Photos??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I don't have RSA ETKA but after you snap a few dozen pics please share them via PhotoBucket or similar?

Us north americans are curious to see how your "Vanagon" is different than ours...and yeah, we know the steering wheel is on the wrong side :)


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From:         Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
Date:          Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:08:24 +1300

>Having just had my silver 93 T3 Microbus 2.5i dropped off (not
>literally, fortunately... that does happen) the truck at home, I'm
>wondering if anyone has the RSA ETKA available for copying. I might
>want to get parts to repair the engine (AAY-series Audi 2.5 five), and
>the NZ VW agent has no listings for this engine.
>
>It is reluctant to start and once running refuses to idle; it runs
>sweetly for a minute or so (but lacking any low-RPM torque
>whatsoever), then loses one cylinder; after a minute or so more it
>loses another and begins to blow oil smoke. Probably just rings, but
>could be a cracked piston or head. But the lack of torque says "badly
>worn rings" to me.
>
>The gearshift reminds me of exactly why I wanted a G50 transmission!
>
>Looking the van over, I see that few external panels are shared with
>the German vans. Even the nose is different:
>-no blank LHD wiper bosses
>-slider has waist-height extension over the rail, with corresponding notch
>   door-opening
>-waist-level slider rail cover panel shorter than German due to notch
>-rear upper corners totally different (due to engine vent redesign)
>-right-rear side panel has no slider track or place for one
>-therefore no track cover panel on right
>-cargo-bay side windows extend about 30mm lower
>-no "windowsill" below cargo-bay side windows, giving much more
>   modern look
>-dash totally different apart from instrument binnacle
>-HVAC controls are 3 rotary switches; not good, but better than German
>-folding third-place seat on middle bench; great for rear-seat access and
>   makes bus an 8-seater
>- engine deck about 10cm higher  than boxer-engined vans
>
>External parts the same as German:
>-tailgate
>-cab doors
>-roof
>-probably sills, bumper structure
>-rear panel
>
>Bumpers are black-painted steel with endcaps which wrap around the
>body corners. There are no side body-moldings/cladding. It has factory
>aluminum 14" wheels, which will eventually go on the 84 Caravelle for
>sale, as probably will the 2.5i engine.
>
>I'm going over it with a camera to snap the differences.
>
>I will swap bits between it and the 84; particularly the seats, which
>are very nice in the 84 (blue/check velor, contoured,  with armrests
>all round) and plain-jane in the 93 (gray tweed, flat and with no
>armrests). I'll cut the folding seat mount off the center bench and
>adapt it to bolt onto the Caravelle middle seat.
>
>The only rust is a hole in the middle of the driver's (right!) door,
>where I guess the window mechanism presses against the skin and
>trapped water. This and the scrape damage to both rear wheelarches are
>the only blemishes, and will be fixed at some stage. Otherwise it
>looks VERY smart!
>
>It has factory alarm & immobilizer.
>
>I'm thinking of naming it the "Flying Wedge" after what some Poms call
>T3s... though there's nothing wedgelike about these vans.
>
>--
>Regards
>Andrew Grebneff
>Dunedin
>New Zealand
>Fossil preparator
>Molluc, Toyota & VW van fan
>